Ian Cooke (footballer)

Ian Cooke
Personal information
Place of birthEngland
Playing positionForward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1963–1977Wimbledon427(191)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Ian Cooke is an English former professional footballer who played for Wimbledon for his entire career.

Playing career

Cooke joined the amateur Isthmian League club Wimbledon in 1963,[1] and played in the club's final two amateur matches a year later.[1] Wimbledon turned professional in 1964, and Cooke's employers, Westminster Bank, initially refused to let him sign for the club.[1] Wimbledon eventually managed to secure Cooke's signature, and the young forward had made eight appearances by the end of the 1964–65 season.[2] Cooke broke into the side during the following season, and scored 29 goals in 44 matches to be Wimbledon's top scorer,[2] something he would remain for six out of the next seven seasons.[2] Cooke later became captain of Wimbledon,[1] and moved back into midfield during his later years as a player;[1] taking part in Wimbledon's final season as a non-League club,[1] Cooke's career finally ended in 1977, just before Wimbledon's election to The Football League.[1] Cooke made the second highest number of appearances for Wimbledon, with 615; his 297 goals was also the second highest number scored for the club.[2]

Post-playing career

Cooke later became a director of AFC Wimbledon, the club founded by supporters in 2002 after approval had been given to Wimbledon F.C.'s relocation to Milton Keynes.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "The Players". Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jones, Marc. "Ian Cooke". FOTO. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  3. "History in a Capsule at Plough Lane". Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association. Retrieved 2009-11-06.